ELYMI Family Buffet Restaurant — Restaurant in Calgary

Went on Friday for the Surf & Turf Buffet.  Showed up at 4:45pm Buffet starts at 5:00pm (no reservations allowed). I was here on opening day for the lunch buffet, but decided to wait and give it a second try, before posting a review. The actual restaurant looks nice,  although the buffet area is NOT set up to handle very many people.  When the backwall specials get busy,  the line-up cuts off most of the rest of the buffet items. The Food:   Definitely was NOT the Surf & Turf night, as shown on their promo video. No thick juicy steaks, as per video.   The types of steaks they did have,  were thin, over cooked, dry pieces of meat.  The roast,  I don't know, it was either out or the line up for the lobster tails and roast were very long and slow.  As for the lobster,  I was able to get 2 small tails, 1 in a cream sauce and 1 in a spicy sauce... the cream sauce had zero flavor and the spicy sauce was more sweet. Also the lobsters were always out. Never was able to try the Calamari,  as it was forever out,  as was the stuffed mushrooms,  the salt and peppered Shrimp and the Salmon dish. The soup was nice, a little thin for a chowder. The mashed potatoes were quite tasty, as I filled up with them, as they were always full. Salad was not bad. The service ....   the service was lacking this night.   Saw our waitress only once when she came buy to refill my beverage.   Never asked how things were going, tasting, enjoying ourselves.  Waited for 20 minutes for our bill from our request. There is a 90 minute time for your meal,  not a lot of time when they can't seem to keep the buffet trays up. Plus not being able to even try several of the main dishes. I struggled with this review,  I really wanted to have a great experience and to be able to share it.  As I mentioned, this was the second time here.  On the first time on opening day,   the food was "Lacking" in taste/flavor,  even one of the main Gentlemen, said it wasn't up to his standard. However the desserts I tried some were a treat.  NOT the cream puffs though,  hard and tasteless.   The soft serve ice-cream and strawberries,   such a welcome dish, as was the..   I think it was banana pudding and berries... I know it's a buffet,  so I reviewed as such.  I didn't expect the food to be Michelin Star Quality or anything like that,   but come on. I wish this restaurant the best and I hope it survives,  but you know you are going to have to do much better. Final outcome:  it was very pricey, for the food and quality...

This was me and my family’s second time eating at Elymi and we were just as impressed as the first time. Both visits were for dinner and the food was fresh, full of flavor, and very satisfying!!!

Our first visit was during their Surf and Turf event which runs from Friday to Sunday. The selection was great with many delicious choices. The crab legs were especially good! It was fresh, tasty, and cooked perfectly. Every dish we tried that night was flavorful and well prepared. We did not take photos that night but we all enjoyed a big and tasty meal together 😋

For our second visit we came on a Wednesday for Pub Night. The menu was different but just as good. My favorite that night was the beef brisket as shown in the picture. It was tender, juicy, and packed with rich savory flavor! I also really enjoyed the calamari which was crispy, fresh, and delicious. Every dish we tried was full of flavor and cooked just right 🙌🏼

Here are some things to know before you go!! Drinks are not included in the buffet price. They offer bottomless pop for two dollars and ninety-five cents which we thought was a great deal if you want a drink with your meal.

Elymi does not take reservations. You just walk in and wait for a table. On Surf and Turf night it was busy and we waited about ten to fifteen minutes. On Wednesday for Pub Night the restaurant was quieter and we were seated right away.

Prices at Elymi vary depending on the meal time. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner all have different prices. Dinner is usually the most expensive. Weekend dinner during Surf and Turf is the priciest. Wednesday dinner for Pub Night is more affordable making it a good choice if you want tasty food and want to save some money.

One of the things we love about Elymi is that every day has a different food theme!! This means you can try something new and exciting each time you visit which keeps the experience fresh and fun 🤩

Overall, every dish we had was fresh, delicious, and full of flavor! Me and my family really enjoyed both visits and would definitely recommend Elymi if you are looking for a great flavorful buffet experience. Just be prepared to wait a little on busy nights and...

I’ve visited twice, a Friday and a Saturday, and my first take away is that $60/pp is extreme for what this restaurant offers. The $60 is the per person price + a tea + 15% tip on pretax total. No alcohol. Nothing extra.

The first Friday I went, there were a couple dishes I loved; the clams and mussels in Thai curry sauce and the green bean and seafood stir fry. The prime rib is also seasoned and cooked very well.

The rest of the food was ok but not great.

We went back on a Saturday because I had someone who wanted to try it out. This experience was less enjoyable mostly related to our table attendant/wait staff. The person kept busy but I was put off by an outright ask to a table if they were going to leave a tip. They also seemed to ignore the table beside us and they had to ask to have their stack of plates removed as they were being left. The other downside was the food. It was my mistake assuming the dishes would be the same. They were not. The sauces changed on the stir fry and the mussels and clams so I was disappointed. They weren’t as good this time and the green beans were very tough.

Aside from what I feel is overpriced, the temperature of the food isn’t always enjoyable. The salads are warm instead of cool or chilled, and many of the hot dishes are barely warm. If it is a brand new pan, the temp is good but if they’ve been out for a bit, they’ve cooled off significantly.

My guest was also underwhelmed by the variety.

The place is always packed and I can see for a large group, it might be good because people can be selective on what they like.

Lastly, possibly with the high turnover, it is difficult to keep it clean because I was shocked at the food on the floor. I also feel fabric chairs and benches were a terrible choice. Many of them are stained and dirty. The French fries on the floor between the bench and hostess stand was interesting as I’m not sure how they would gotten there so far from the dining area. The bus carts blocking the staircases is also unappealing.

We came, we dined, we’ll look for something new the next time we’re wanting to eat out. We...